Fiji’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation, Viliame Gavoka, is representing the country at the Tourism Resilience Summit in Sendai, alongside the Fijian Ambassador to Japan, Filimone Waqabaca. This summit, co-hosted by the Government of Japan and the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), has gathered tourism leaders from the Asia-Pacific region to discuss strategies for recovery and resilience in the tourism sector following the disruptions caused by the pandemic.
During his address, Hon. Gavoka emphasized Fiji’s dedication to strengthening its tourism sector despite the challenges posed by natural disasters. He remarked on how previous crises, such as SARS, the Global Financial Crisis, and COVID-19, have been utilized as opportunities for rebuilding more robustly. His vision for the future involves a tourism sector that prioritizes sustainability, inclusivity, and resilience.
Gavoka outlined plans to diversify tourism offerings and improve the sector’s resilience to disasters, acknowledging the pivotal role that tourism plays in Fiji’s economy. He described the ongoing efforts as a unified drive to establish a “stronger and diverse economic base” through sustainable public-private partnerships and proactive policies.
The summit featured a Ministerial Meeting led by Japan’s Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism, Saito Tetsuo, with contributions from various officials, including the UNWTO Executive Director and the Mayor of Sendai. A significant takeaway from the meeting was the consensus on the necessity for proactive disaster preparedness and the development of collaborative strategies to handle future challenges while promoting innovation in the tourism sector.
Gavoka reiterated the importance of using the current recovery phase to build resilience for the future, stating that this involves creating policies and programs that are beneficial today and will continue to support the industry for years to come. As tourism remains a cornerstone of Fiji’s economy, the focus on adaptive strategies that foster both growth and sustainability holds great promise for the nation’s economic future.
In summary, Fiji’s commitment to developing a resilient and sustainable tourism sector was a central theme at the Tourism Resilience Summit, showcasing the country’s efforts to leverage past challenges into opportunities for a brighter economic future. This proactive approach is a hopeful sign for a stronger and more diverse tourism industry in Fiji.
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